Afternoon Drive withJoanne Joseph

American rapper Macklemore has released a song which challenges white privilege, apathy towards racism, cultural appropriation and the political power of hip hop.

In the dynamic nine-minute track, the rapper intently explores criticism of his own social position as a white rapper (in genre pioneered by black musicians); and his role as a white ally to the black community in the ongoing race debate.

Some extracts from White Privilege II:

Where's my place in a music that's been taken by my race.
Cultural appropriated by the white face.
And we don't want to admit that this is existing.
So scared to acknowledge the benefits of our white privilege.

— Macklemore on White Privilege II

Hiphop started off in a block that I've never been to.
To counter act a struggle that I've never even been through.
If I think I understand just because I flow too.
That means I'm not keeping it true, I'm not keeping it true.
Now I don't rap about guns so they label me conscious.
But I don't rap about guns cause I wasn't forced into the projects.

— Macklemore on White Privilege II

And I speak freely when I write this.
If a black emcee examined race there goes half their fan base, white kids.
And this is so true. and we didn't even have to fight the system.
We just went and picked up the microphone too.